Drinking straw kits and methods

ABSTRACT

Drinking straw kits and methods are disclosed that allow consumers to construct a variety of changeable toys, sculpture, icons, novelties, and designs that can be manipulated in a variety of ways while still maintaining the functionality of the drinking straw to transport liquid via suction. The drinking straws in kits may include one or more corrugated sections that may be elongated into an extended state from a shorter compressed state. The corrugated sections also allow manipulation of the drinking straws into curvilinear shapes that may be substantially retained after manipulation.

Drinking straws have long facilitated the transfer of liquid from acontainer to a persons mouth since the ancient Egyptians used hollowreeds to extract juices from fruits and vessels. Today, billions ofstraws each day facilitate the transfer of liquids in a convenient andinexpensive manner.

Some people use straws to drink because they can regulate the flow ofliquid. Others use straws for sanitary purposes. Still others use strawsbecause they do no like the taste of cardboard from milk cartons orpaper cups or the taste of aluminum from cans. Still others use strawsto facilitate drinking because of medical conditions do not allow themto utilize the motor skills necessary to hold a cup or glass. While asimple utensil, straws are a part of our everyday life and can be foundanywhere from fast food eating establishments, to school lunch programs,to evening cocktails at a bar.

Most straws simply exist to provide the most basic function, i.e., toeasily transfer liquid to one's mouth. There is little entertainment orplay value in most straws as they are the most basic of commodities.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides drinking straw kits and methods that maypreferably allow consumers to construct a variety of changeable toys,sculpture, icons, novelties, and designs that can be manipulated in avariety of ways while still maintaining the functionality of thedrinking straw to transport liquid via suction.

The drinking straws in kits according to the present inventionpreferably include one or more corrugated sections that may be elongatedinto an extended state from a shorter compressed state. The corrugatedsections also preferably allow manipulation of the drinking straws intocurvilinear shapes that may be substantially retained aftermanipulation. The one or more corrugated sections in each drinking strawmay preferably occupy 30% or more (or even 50% or more) of the length ofthe drinking straw when the corrugated sections are in the compressedstate. In some embodiments, the entire length of the drinking straw maybe corrugated (except, perhaps, for connectors that may be found at oneor both ends of the straws).

In various aspects, the present invention may preferably provideentertainment by allowing a user to construct animals, robots,creatures, vehicles, geometric design, toys, magical playthings andcountless other shapes and free form icons to stimulate play andcreative expression.

In other aspects, the drinking straw kits of the present invention mayinclude connectors that are integral to the drinking straws themselvesand/or that are provided as separate articles that must be assembledwith the drinking straws. It may be preferred that the connectorsprovide a fluid passage such that after connection, two (or more)drinking straws are placed in fluid communication with each otherthrough the connectors.

In still other aspects of the present invention, novelty components maybe provided in connection with the drinking straw kits to enhance theentertainment value of the kits. The novelty components may preferablyinclude some structure or material to facilitate attachment of thenovelty component to a drinking straw. For example, the noveltycomponents may include adhesives, openings, tabs, clips, wrappings, etc.that may be used to attach the novelty components and the drinkingstraws together. Other novelty components may include fold lines suchthat the novelty component can be draped over or placed on a containerto provide, e.g. thematic dressing, from which liquid is to be withdrawnthrough the straw. The straws used in connection with such kits may ormay not include corrugated sections.

In one aspect, the present invention provides a drinking straw kit thatincludes a plurality of drinking straws in a package. Each drinkingstraw of the plurality of drinking straws includes one or morecorrugated sections extending along at least a portion of a length ofthe drinking straw, wherein each of the one or more corrugated sectionshas a compressed state and an extended state in which the length of thedrinking straw is increased as compared to the compressed state. The oneor more corrugated sections can be formed in and retain a curvilinearshape, and wherein at least 30% of the length of the straw is occupiedby the one or more corrugated sections. Each drinking straw alsoincludes a connector located at a first end of the drinking straw,wherein two drinking straws of the plurality of drinking straws can beconnected to each other using at least the connector on one of the twodrinking straws to form an elongated composite drinking straw.

In another aspect, the present invention provides a drinking straw kitthat includes a plurality of drinking straws in a package. Each drinkingstraw of the plurality of drinking straws includes one or morecorrugated sections extending along at least a portion of a length ofthe drinking straw, wherein each of the one or more corrugated sectionshas a compressed state and an extended state in which the length of thedrinking straw is increased as compared to the compressed state. The oneor more corrugated sections can be formed in and retain a curvilinearshape and at least 30% of the length of the straw is occupied by the oneor more corrugated sections. The kit also includes a plurality ofconnectors in the package, wherein the plurality of connectors areindependent articles separate from the plurality of drinking straws, andwherein each connector of the plurality of connectors includes at leasttwo openings, wherein each opening is adapted to receive and retain anend of one of the drinking straws.

These and other features and advantages of the present invention may bedescribed below in connection with various exemplary embodiments of thepresent invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of one exemplary straw that is corrugatedalong its entire length, wherein the corrugated straw is in thecompressed state.

FIG. 1B is a perspective view of the straw of FIG. 1A in the fullyexpanded state.

FIG. 1C is a perspective view of the straw of FIG. 1A after manipulationinto a retained curvilinear shape.

FIG. 2A is a perspective view of another exemplary straw includingmultiple corrugated sections separated by non-corrugated sections,wherein the corrugated sections are in the compressed state.

FIG. 2B is a perspective view of the straw of FIG. 2A in which thecorrugated sections are in the expanded configuration and the straw isstraight.

FIG. 2C is a perspective view of the straw of FIG. 2A in which thecorrugated sections have been manipulated into curvilinear shapes.

FIG. 3 depicts two exemplary straws according to the present invention,wherein each straw includes connectors at both ends of each straw.

FIG. 4 depicts another exemplary straw including complementary helicalconnector structures at the ends.

FIGS. 5A & 5B depict one drinking straw kit that includes a manifoldconnector and a novelty component attached to the drinking straws.

FIGS. 6A-6H depict some exemplary connectors for use in connection withdrinking straws in accordance with the present invention.

FIGS. 7A-7F depict some alternative structures for attaching noveltycomponents to drinking straws.

FIG. 8 depicts a drinking straw and novelty component including matchingpatterns in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 9A depicts one exemplary embodiment of a drinking straw with apattern formed thereon, with a corrugated section in the compressedstate.

FIG. 9B is an enlarged view of the corrugated section of the drinkingstraw of FIG. 9A where the corrugated section is in the compressedstate.

FIG. 9C depicts the drinking straw of FIG. 9A after elongation of thecorrugated section.

FIG. 9D is an enlarged view of the corrugated section of the drinkingstraw of FIG. 9C where the corrugated section is in the extended state.

FIGS. 10-14 depict various exemplary embodiments of drinking straw kitswith multiple novelty components attached thereto.

FIGS. 15A & 15B depict another drinking straw kit in which a toy can beprovided in a compressed state (FIG. 15A) and an extended state (FIG.15B).

FIG. 16 depicts a patterned non-corrugated drinking straw and noveltycomponent attached thereto.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

In the following detailed description of some exemplary embodiments ofthe invention, reference is made to the accompanying figures which forma part hereof, and in which are shown, by way of illustration, specificembodiments in which the invention may be practiced. It is to beunderstood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural changesmay be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

The set of FIGS. 1A-1C depict one drinking straw according to thepresent invention. The drinking straw 10 includes a corrugated section20 that extends along substantially the entire length of the straw 10.It will be understood, with reference to the different exemplaryembodiments of the invention described herein, that although thecorrugated section 20 is substantially coextensive with the straw 10 inthe embodiment of FIGS. 1A-1C, the corrugated section 20 is not requiredto be coextensive with the length of the straw 10 (unless explicitly sorecited in the claims).

In FIG. 1A, the corrugated section 20 of the straw 10 is in thecompressed state such that the length of the straw 10 is at a minimum.In FIG. 1B, substantially the entire corrugated section 20 of the straw10 has been elongated into an extended state such that the straw 10 isat its maximum length. Although substantially the entire corrugatedsection 20 of the straw 10 has been elongated in FIG. 1B, it should beunderstood that in some instances, only one or more selected portions ofthe corrugated section 20 may be elongated to the extended state asdesired. In other words, one or more portions of the corrugated section20 can be selectively elongated by a user. The elongation of thecorrugated section 20 may preferably be achieved by simply placing thestraw 10 (or selected portion(s) thereof) under tension.

FIG. 1C depicts straw 10 after manipulation of the corrugated section 20by a user into a selected curvilinear shape. Because of itsconstruction, the corrugated section 20 of the straw 10 preferablyretains its curvilinear shape without external support. The curvilinearshapes may include, e.g., spirals, loops, turns, U-shaped bends, etc.

Furthermore, the corrugated sections in straws according to the presentinvention are preferably reversible, i.e., the corrugated sections maybe reversibly transformed from the compressed state to the extendedstate and back again. Although some minimal amounts of permanentdeformation within the corrugated sections may be experienced as aresult of manipulation, the elongation may preferably be largelyreversible.

Manipulation of the straw 10 into the curvilinear shape depicted in FIG.1C may or may not be accompanied by elongation of the corrugated section20 (or portions thereof). In the straw 10 depicted in FIG. 1C, theportion 22 of the corrugated section proximate end 12 of the straw 10 iselongated, while portions of the corrugated section in the interior ofthe straw 10 are not elongated. It may be preferred that the corrugatedsections be in the compressed state during manipulation into a curve,such that the portions 24 of the corrugations on the outside of thecurve can be elongated during manipulation while the portions 26 of thecorrugations on the inside of the curve remain substantially in thecompressed state.

Straws such as those depicted in FIGS. 1A-1C and in other embodiments ofthe invention as described herein can be manufactured using a variety oftechniques and materials. Examples of some potentially suitable methodsof manufacturing corrugated sections in tubes or drinking straws may befound in, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,094,268 (Friedman); 3,438,578 (Petersonet al.); and 3,908,704 (Clement et al.). It may, however, be preferredthat the drinking straws of the present invention be manufactured inprocesses that involve deformation of an existing smooth-walled tubularmember. Manufacturing the drinking straws from smooth-walled tubularstock may provide the opportunity to extrude the tubular stock, to printindicia on the tubular stock, etc. before the corrugation process.Furthermore, although the drinking straws are depicted with annularcorrugation structures, the corrugated sections may alternatively beprovided with helical corrugations (as described in, e.g., U.S. Pat. No.3,908,704 (Clement et al.)).

FIGS. 2A-2C depict another exemplary embodiment of a drinking straw 110according to the present invention. The drinking straw 110 is depictedin FIG. 2A with multiple corrugated sections 120 separated along thelength of the straw 110 by non-corrugated sections 116. As with thedrinking straw 10 of FIG. 1A, the corrugated sections 120 of drinkingstraw 110 preferably have a compressed state as depicted in FIG. 2A inwhich the length of each of the corrugated sections 120 is at a minimum.As depicted in FIG. 2B, the corrugated sections 120 are elongated to theextended state in which the length of the corrugated sections 120 is ata maximum. In FIG. 2C, the corrugated sections 120 of the straw 110 havebeen manipulated such that they have taken and retained a curvilinearshape.

Another feature of the drinking straws of the present invention may bediscussed in connection with the drinking straws depicted in FIGS. 1A-1Cand 2A-2C. That feature is the length of the corrugated section(s) withrespect to the overall length of a drinking straw in a kit according tothe present invention. It may be preferred that the corrugated sectionor sections in at least one drinking straw in a kit according to thepresent invention occupy at least 30% or more (or even 50% or more) ofthe overall length of the drinking straw when the corrugated sectionsare in the compressed state. In some embodiments, the entire length ofthe drinking straw may be corrugated (except, perhaps, for connectorsthat may be found at one or both ends of the straws).

Because the drinking straws used in connection with the presentinvention are designed to assist a user in the consumption of liquids,it may be preferred to limit the cross-sectional area of the drinkingstraws to allow the user to develop sufficient suction to move a liquidthrough the straw against the forces of gravity, fluid drag, etc. Forexample, it may be preferred that the internal cross-sectional area ofthe drinking straws be 100 square millimeters (mm²) or less, morepreferably 80 mm². These cross-sectional dimensions may preferably bemeasured along the corrugated sections in both the compressed state andthe extended state.

As discussed herein, one potentially advantageous feature of the kits ofthe present invention is that the drinking straws can be connected toeach other and/or to other structures. These different connections arepreferably provided to, e.g., enhance the entertainment value of thedrinking straw kits. In various embodiments, the connections betweendrinking straws can be integral with one of the drinking straws and/orthey may be provided as separate articles that are attached to thedrinking straws when a connection is to be made. Various exemplaryembodiments of such different connectors may be described below.

Because the drinking straws are preferably used to facilitate theconsumption of liquids, it may be preferred that any connectors used toconnect the drinking straws provide a seal tight enough such thatsufficient suction can be developed to draw liquids through theconnected drinking straws. In some instances, connections that aresealed to the degree necessary to support the drawing of liquids throughthe straws by suction may be referred to as “airtight” although it willbe understood that some air leakage may occur as long as it does notfrustrate the user's ability to drink using the straws.

A pair of drinking straws 210 are depicted in FIG. 3 with each straw 210including a first end 212 and a second end 214. In the depicted straws210, a female connector is located at first end 212 and a complementarymale connector is located at the second end 214 of the straw 210. Thestraws 210 also each include a corrugated section 220 that extends forsubstantially the entire length of the straw 210 between the femaleconnector at the first end 212 and the male connector at the second end214.

The male connector at end 214 may preferably include a raised annularrib 234 that preferably mates with an annular channel 232 provided inthe female connector at end 212 to retain the fittings in a connectedarrangement. In addition, it may be preferred that the outer diameter ofthe of the male connectors be slightly smaller than the inner diameterof the female connectors to facilitate insertion of the male connectorsinto the female connectors.

As discussed herein, because the drinking straws of the presentinvention are to be used to move liquids, it may be preferred that theconnections between straws 210 are preferably airtight to a degreesufficient that suction generated by a user trying to drink through thestraw can be provided between two connected straws. The connectionstructures depicted in FIG. 3 provide only one example of integralconnection structures that may be used in connection with the presentinvention.

Another potential example of a drinking straw 310 according to thepresent invention is depicted in FIG. 4 includes ends 312 and 314. Afemale connector 332 is located at end 312 and a male connector 334 islocated at end 314. The female connector 332 and the male connector 334preferably include complementary structures that allow the maleconnector 334 to be inserted into a female connector 332 on anotherstraw. The depicted male connector 334 includes helical threading 335that fits in helical grooves 333 in the female connector 332. It may bethat the connection between male and female connectors as depicted inFIG. 4 may be made by rotating the connectors relative to each other.

Another exemplary embodiment of the present invention is depicted inFIGS. 5A & 5B. The kit as depicted there includes a set of straws 410that may preferably be attached to a manifold connector 440 thatincludes multiple ports 442. One end of each of the straws 410 can beattached to each of the ports 442 as depicted. The other ends of thedifferent straws 410 can be placed in the same or different containers400 to allow a user to consume liquid(s) in the container(s). Themanifold connector 440 also preferably includes a port 444 that can beused as a mouthpiece by a user as depicted in FIGS. 5A & 5B.Alternatively, one or more drinking straws could be connected to theport 444 if so desired.

FIGS. 6A-6H depict some alternative connectors that may be used in thedrinking straw kits according to the present invention. FIG. 6A is aperspective view of a generally U-shaped connector 540 a including ports542 a and 544 a and a fluid passageway extending therebetween.

FIG. 6B depicts a U-shaped connector 540 b attached to two straws 510 b,where the ports of the connector 540 b are male connectors inserted intothe ends of the straws 510 b. FIG. 6C depicts one alternativeconfiguration in which a connector 540 c includes female ports 542 c and544 c adapted to receive the ends of straws 510 c.

FIG. 6D depicts a connector 540 d that includes three ports 542 d, 543 dand 544 d. The ports are connected within the connector by bores 545 d,546 d and 547 d that lead to each of the ports 542 d, 543 d and 544 dand also meet within the connector 540 d such that all of the ports arein fluid communication. A drinking straw 510 d is connected to port 542d.

Connectors according to the present invention may have any number ofports, further examples of which are depicted in FIG. 6E where connector540 e includes six different ports and in FIG. 6F where connector 540 fincludes four ports (one of which includes a drinking straw 510 fconnected thereto). Although the different ports may be in fluidcommunication with each other within the connectors, it should beunderstood that all of the ports in a multi-port connector of thepresent invention are not required to be in fluid communication with allof the other ports in the connector.

FIGS. 6G & 6H depict another connector 540 g that includes four ports influid communication with each other through bores formed in theconnector 540 g. The ports in connector 540 g may be female connectorsadapted to receive the end of a drinking straw 510 g as seen in FIG. 6G.

Connectors such as those depicted in FIGS. 5A, 5B, and 6A-6H may beconstructed of any suitable material or materials. In some instances,the connectors, if not integral with the drinking straws, may preferablybe constructed of water-soluble materials such as foodstuffs, etc. so asto not present a choking hazard. In other instances, the connectors maypreferably be large enough so that they do not present a choking hazard.In still other embodiments, the connectors may take the form of, e.g.,adhesive tape or other wrap-type connector materials that may beprovided in the package with the drinking straws

Another optional feature depicted in FIGS. 5A & 5B is the noveltycomponent 450 that may be attached to the drinking straws 410. Thenovelty component 450 may be provided to obscure a portion of thedrinking straws 410 during use and/or to provide additionalentertainment value for the drinking straw construction kit. Thedepicted novelty component 450 is in the form of a spider, although thenovelty component 450 may take on many different appearances, such as,e.g., animals, robots, plants, people, puppets, sporting objects (e.g.,balls, bats, hockey/lacrosse sticks, etc.), vehicles, householdappliances, games of skill and/or chance, dinosaurs, monsters, etc.

Novelty components used in connection with the drinking straw kits ofthe present invention may be manufactured of any suitable material ormaterials. For example, the novelty components may be manufactured fromsheet-like materials such as paper, paperboard, polymer sheets/films,etc. that may be printed, embossed, etc. as desired. If the noveltycomponents are provided to mimic the appearance of animals or plants(real or fanciful), the novelty components may take the form of trunks,heads, appendages (e.g., legs, arms, tentacles, tails, etc.), leaves,stems, flowers, petals, etc.

Attachment of the drinking straws 410 to the novelty component 450 maybe by any suitable technique. Some potentially suitable techniquesand/or attachment means for attaching the novelty components to drinkingstraws may include, but are not limited to, adhesives, openings in thenovelty component, clips, hook and loop closures, adhesive tape, tabswith openings formed therein through which a straw is inserted, etc.Some examples of potentially suitable fasteners are depicted in FIGS.7A-7F.

FIG. 7A depicts a tab 460 that may be attached to a novelty component450 a. The tab 460 includes a base 462 attached to the novelty component450 a and a upstanding portion 464 with an opening 466 formed thereinthrough which a drinking straw 410 a may be inserted. FIG. 7B depicts aclip 470 with arms 472 that preferably resiliently engage a drinkingstraw inserted between the arms 472. The clip may include a base 450 bsuited for attachment to a novelty component (or, alternatively, thebase 450 b itself may be the novelty component).

FIG. 7C depicts another novelty component 450 c in the form of a body(in the depicted embodiment a skirt or a cone) that includes a channel452 c through which a drinking straw 410 c can be inserted. FIG. 7Ddepicts another embodiment of a novelty component 450 d that alsoincludes a channel 452 d through which a drinking straw 410 d can beinserted. The novelty component 450 d includes protruding features 454 d(in the form of hands in the depicted embodiment) provided to enhancethe novelty aspect of the component 450 d.

Because of the channels included therein, both novelty components 450 cand 450 d may potentially also serve as connectors to connect twodrinking straws in accordance with the principles of the presentinvention. In such an embodiment, the drinking straws would be insertedfrom opposite ends of the channels 452 c and 452 d.

FIGS. 7E & 7F also depict another novelty component 450 e that includestabs 460 e with openings 466 formed therein. The openings 466 e maypreferably be capable of accepting a drinking straw 410 e as depicted inFIG. 7F to retain the novelty component 450 e in attachment with thestraw 410 e. It may be preferred that novelty component 450 e bemanufactured from sheet-like materials such as paper, paperboard,polymer sheets/films, etc.

Another optional feature that may be included in connection with thepresent invention is the addition of patterns on the drinking straws.One exemplary of such an embodiment is depicted in FIG. 8 in whichdrinking straw 610 includes a pattern printed or otherwise formed on itsexterior surface (or in the body of the straw such that it is visible onthe exterior surface). The straw 610 also includes a novelty component650 that may preferably be similar to the novelty components describedabove in connection with FIGS. 5A & 5B.

The patterns may take a variety of forms, e.g., they may be based onanimal markings (as depicted in FIG. 8), they may be in the form ofindicia designed to convey information (e.g., alphanumeric characters,symbols, etc.), they may be based on plant markings, they may befanciful, sports-related, characters, vehicles, etc.

It may be preferred that the pattern be provided before any corrugatedsections are formed in the straw 610, i.e., while it is still asmooth-walled tubular member. In some instances, the pattern may becomemore pronounce with the corrugated sections after the corrugatedsections are converted from the compressed state to the extended state.For example, the pattern may be obscured within the bends or folds inthe corrugated sections when in the compressed state.

FIGS. 9A-9D depict another embodiment of a drinking straw 710 includinga corrugated section 720. The corrugated section 720 includes a patternvisible thereon that may be in a compressed state when the corrugatedsection 720 is compressed as depicted in FIGS. 9A & 9B. In addition, thenon-corrugated portion 716 of the straw 710 may also include acomplementary pattern visible thereon as seen in FIGS. 9A & 9C.Elongation of the corrugated section 720 to the extends state asdepicted in FIGS. 9C & 9D may preferably cause a change in theappearance of the pattern in the corrugated section 720. In this manner,patterns within the corrugated sections of drinking straws according tothe present invention may provide additional entertainment value.

In addition to, or in place of patterns such as those depicted, thedrinking straws may also include novelty materials such as, e.g.,phosphorescent materials, solarchromatic materials (e.g.,light-activated color-change materials), thermochromatic materials(that, e.g., exhibit color changes based on temperature), etc.

FIG. 10 depicts still another exemplary embodiment of the invention inwhich a single continuous drinking straw 810 is used in connection withnovelty components 850 and 870, with novelty component 870 in the formof the trunk of a character (e.g., animal, robot, person, etc.) whilethe second novelty component 870 is provided as the head of thecharacter. In addition, the straw 810 may be provided with a patternthat matches or coordinates with the novelty components 850 and 870 ifso desired. The straw 810 may be replaced by two or more drinking strawsif so desired.

Still another exemplary embodiment of the present invention is depictedin FIG. 11 and includes a drinking straw 910 along with multiple noveltycomponents 950, 952, 954, 956 and 958 attached thereto. It may bepreferred that the novelty components be within a consistent theme,e.g., dinosaur features as depicted. The novelty component 952 maypreferably include a fold line 953 formed therein such that the noveltycomponent 952 can form a tent-like shape that can be placed over, e.g.,a container 900 (such as a cup, can, mug, bottle, carton, etc.). It maybe preferred that be manufactured from sheet-like materials such aspaper, paperboard, polymer sheets/films, etc.

FIGS. 12A & 12B depict another embodiment of a drinking straw kitaccording to the present invention in which groups of novelty components1050 a, 1050 b, and 1050 c are attached to a single drinking straw 1010(or a composite drinking straw made of two or more connected drinkingstraws). In the depicted embodiment, the novelty components may providethe appearance of monkeys although many different novelty componentscould be used.

FIG. 13 depicts another embodiment of a drinking straw construction kitaccording to the present invention in which a drinking straw 1110includes novelty components 1150, 1152 and 1154 attached thereto. Thenovelty components in FIG. 13 present a pirate theme when assembled onthe drinking straw 1110.

FIG. 14 depicts another exemplary embodiment of the present inventionthat includes an elephant-like novelty component 1250 and a singlecontinuous drinking straw 1210 attached thereto. The novelty component1250 includes openings 1252 through which the straw 1210 is inserted toretain the novelty component 1250 in place on the straw 1210. Alsodepicted in FIG. 14 is a second novelty component 1270 (in the form of astand) provided in addition to the novelty component 1250 and attachedto the straw 1210. The straw 1210 may be replaced by two or moredrinking straws if so desired.

FIGS. 15A & 15B depict still another embodiment of the present inventionin which novelty components 1350, 1352 and 1354 may be connected to eachother by drinking straws 1310. The drinking straws 1310 may preferablyinclude corrugated sections such that the toy may be provided in acompressed state as seen in FIG. 15A. Elongation of all of the drinkingstraws may result in elongation or enlargement of the toy as depicted inFIG. 15B. In addition, the straws 1310 may be formed into variouscurvilinear shapes.

FIG. 16 depicts a non-corrugated straw 1410 and a novelty component 1450attached thereto. It should be noted that the non-corrugated straw 1410includes a pattern visible on the exterior of the straw. It may bepreferred that the pattern on the straw 1410 coordinate with the shapeand/or patterns on the novelty component 1450 to potentially enhance theentertainment value of the drinking straw kit.

In addition to the various features depicted in connection with thefigures that may potentially be provided in connection with the drinkingstraw kits of the present invention, many other features may also beprovided in connection with the drinking straw kits. One example of suchoptional features may include, e.g., tinting the straws such that theuser can decode or read a message (on the package of the kit orelsewhere) through the straw because of the wavelength filtering natureof the tint in the straws. In addition, the packaging of individualdrinking straws or packaging of the drinking straw kits may include,e.g., temporary transfer tattoos, holograms, and/or stickers such asthose described in, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,594,927 (Witkowski);6,327,801 (Witkowski); and 5,676,401 (Witkowski et al.).

As used herein and in the appended claims, the singular forms “a,”“and,” and “the” include plural referents unless explicitly limited tothe singular form or the context clearly dictates otherwise.

All references and publications cited herein are expressly incorporatedherein by reference in their entirety into this disclosure. Illustrativeembodiments of this invention are discussed and reference has been madeto possible variations within the scope of this invention. These andother variations and modifications in the invention will be apparent tothose skilled in the art without departing from the scope of theinvention, and it should be understood that this invention is notlimited to the illustrative embodiments set forth herein. Accordingly,the invention is to be limited only by the claims provided below andequivalents thereof.

1. A drinking straw kit comprising: a package; a plurality of drinkingstraws in the package, wherein each drinking straw of the plurality ofdrinking straws comprises: one or more corrugated sections extendingalong at least a portion of a length of the drinking straw, wherein eachof the one or more corrugated sections comprises a compressed state andan extended state in which the length of the drinking straw is increasedas compared to the compressed state, wherein the one or more corrugatedsections can be formed in and retain a curvilinear shape, and wherein atleast 30% of the length of the straw is occupied by the one or morecorrugated sections; a connector located at a first end of the drinkingstraw, wherein two drinking straws of the plurality of drinking strawscan be connected to each other using at least the connector on one ofthe two drinking straws to form an elongated composite drinking straw.2. A kit according to claim 1, wherein, for one or more drinking strawsof the plurality of drinking straws, the one or more corrugated sectionscomprise a single corrugated section that extends along substantiallythe entire length of the one or more drinking straws.
 3. A kit accordingto claim 1, wherein the one or more corrugated sections comprise two ormore corrugated sections, and further wherein a non-corrugated sectionis located between two corrugated sections of the drinking straw.
 4. Akit according to claim 1, wherein the connector is integrally formed inthe end of the drinking straw.
 5. A kit according to claim 1, furthercomprising one or more novelty components in the package, wherein eachnovelty component of the one or more novelty components comprises one ormore openings large enough to receive one or more of the drinkingstraws, wherein the novelty component can be attached to one or more ofthe drinking straws by inserting the one or more drinking straws throughthe one or more openings.
 6. A kit according to claim 1, furthercomprising one or more novelty components in the package, wherein eachnovelty component of the one or more novelty components comprises a tabcomprising one or more openings large enough to receive one or more ofthe drinking straws, wherein the novelty component can be attached toone or more of the drinking straws by inserting the one or more drinkingstraws through the one or more openings.
 7. A kit according to claim 1,further comprising one or more novelty components in the package,wherein each novelty component of the one or more novelty componentscomprises one or more clips capable of retaining one or more of thedrinking straws, wherein the novelty component can be attached to one ormore of the drinking straws by inserting the one or more drinking strawsin the one or more clips.
 8. A kit according to claim 1, furthercomprising one or more novelty components in the package, wherein eachnovelty component of the one or more novelty components comprisesattachment means for attaching one or more of the drinking straws to thenovelty components.
 9. A kit according to claim 1, further comprising amanifold connector in the package, wherein the manifold connectorcomprises three or more ports, wherein each port of the three or more isadapted to receive one end of one of the drinking straws, wherein threeor more drinking straws of the plurality of drinking straws can beplaced in fluid communication with each other through the manifoldconnector.
 10. A kit according to claim 9, wherein the manifoldconnector comprises four or more ports.
 11. A kit according to claim 1,wherein each drinking straw of the plurality of drinking strawscomprises an inner cross-sectional area in the one or more corrugatedsections of 100 square millimeters or less.
 12. A drinking straw kitcomprising: a package; a plurality of drinking straws in the package,wherein each drinking straw of the plurality of drinking strawscomprises one or more corrugated sections extending along at least aportion of a length of the drinking straw, wherein each of the one ormore corrugated sections comprises a compressed state and an extendedstate in which the length of the drinking straw is increased as comparedto the compressed state, wherein the one or more corrugated sections canbe formed in and retain a curvilinear shape, and wherein at least 30% ofthe length of the straw is occupied by the one or more corrugatedsections; and a plurality of connectors in the package, wherein theplurality of connectors are independent articles separate from theplurality of drinking straws, and wherein each connector of theplurality of connectors comprises two openings, wherein each opening isadapted to receive and retain an end of one of the drinking straws. 13.A kit according to claim 12, wherein, for one or more drinking straws ofthe plurality of drinking straws, the one or more corrugated sectionscomprise a single corrugated section that extends along substantiallythe entire length of the one or more drinking straws.
 14. A kitaccording to claim 12, wherein the one or more corrugated sectionscomprise two or more corrugated sections, and further wherein anon-corrugated section is located between two corrugated sections of thedrinking straw.
 15. A kit according to claim 12, further comprising oneor more novelty components in the package, wherein each noveltycomponent of the one or more novelty components comprises one or moreopenings large enough to receive one or more of the drinking straws,wherein the novelty component can be attached to one or more of thedrinking straws by inserting the one or more drinking straws through theone or more openings.
 16. A kit according to claim 12, furthercomprising one or more novelty components in the package, wherein eachnovelty component of the one or more novelty components comprises a tabcomprising one or more openings large enough to receive one or more ofthe drinking straws, wherein the novelty component can be attached toone or more of the drinking straws by inserting the one or more drinkingstraws through the one or more openings.
 17. A kit according to claim12, further comprising one or more novelty components in the package,wherein each novelty component of the one or more novelty componentscomprises one or more clips capable of retaining one or more of thedrinking straws, wherein the novelty component can be attached to one ormore of the drinking straws by inserting the one or more drinking strawsin the one or more clips.
 18. A kit according to claim 12, furthercomprising one or more novelty components in the package, wherein eachnovelty component of the one or more novelty components comprisesattachment means for attaching one or more of the drinking straws to thenovelty components.
 19. A kit according to claim 12, further comprisinga manifold connector in the package, wherein the manifold connectorcomprises three or more ports, wherein each port of the three or more isadapted to receive one end of one of the drinking straws, wherein threeor more drinking straws of the plurality of drinking straws can beplaced in fluid communication with each other through the manifoldconnector.
 20. A kit according to claim 19, wherein the manifoldconnector comprises four or more ports.
 21. A kit according to claim 12,wherein each drinking straw of the plurality of drinking strawscomprises an inner cross-sectional area in the one or more corrugatedsections of 100 square millimeters or less.